When two people have a child, it is vital that both parents provide support for them. However, there are often complications when it comes to determining a child’s paternity. This could be because a father does not want to help or because a mother is trying to keep a father from exercising his parental rights. At the Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch, we understand paternity complications. Our Thousand Oaks paternity attorney will get to work on your case today.
Why does paternity matter?
Paternity is vital when it comes to matters of child support, child custody, and visitation. In the state of California, both parents are required to support their children in the event of divorce or separation. However, there are also times when there is no standing relationship between parents. Even if two parents barely know each other, they both have rights and obligations related to a child they have together.
Establishing paternity is good for the child in the long run. It opens up their access to both parents’ health insurance, their medical records, and access to Social Security benefits based on the father’s earnings record.
If two parents are married at the time a child is born, then the husband is presumed to be the biological father by law. If two parents are not married, the father can still claim paternity.
What problems can arise?
Issues usually arise when a father refuses to accept responsibility for a child to avoid paying support or when a mother denies a parent his custody and visitation rights. In these situations, you may have to work with the family court system to get a court-ordered DNA test to prove paternity. This process can become complicated, but a skilled Thousand Oaks paternity attorney will understand how to help you through this.
What if the husband is not the biological father?
There are instances in which a married couple has a child but the husband is not the biological father. In these cases, biology does not always take precedence over parental rights. In these situations, the husband may or may not know that the child is not his biologically and he will be presumed to be the legal father. In the event of a divorce, the husband will be responsible for child support and will have custody and visitation rights, unless it has been less than two years since the child’s birth and the biological father has petitioned the court for a paternity test.
We can help ensure you are treated fairly
Regardless of why you need to establish paternity for a child, you should consider seeking assistance from an attorney. At the Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch, we have a thorough understanding of family law, including paternity issues. Our goal is to ensure that you are treated fairly and that a child’s interests are being taken into consideration. Our Thousand Oaks paternity attorneys are ready to get to work on your behalf today. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling 818-237-4574.